Grading machine



April 16, -1963 A. RA'SHBAUM 3,085,340

GRADING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 TTORNEYS April 16,1963 A. RASHBAUM GRADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5. 1961 mwmm., @www NQQQQ. R@ mw S NNQweNo April 16, 1963 A. RASHBAUM GRADINGMACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' Filed June 5, 1961 QN NN JNVNTOR.. Ar'a/mmasaam/ BY- y v v ATTORNEYS 3,085,340 GRADING MACHINE Abraham Rashbaum,Whitestone, N.Y., assigner to Willcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Company,New York, NX., a corporation of New York Filed June 5, 1961, Ser. No.114,780 11 Claims. (Cl. 33-11) This invention relates to a novel andeicient grader for the simultaneous production of ya lfull range ofsizes of a pattern.

Heretofore the cutter has individually manually graded patterns `tovarious sizes. Efforts to do this mechanically have been cumbersome andineffective.

It is an object of the present invention -to provide a new and simpliedgrader for simultaneously providing a full range of sizes of a pattern.

Another object of the present invention is to provide -a grader whichaccurately provides a plurality of patterns, each having predeterminedand uniform variations between each size.

A further object of the invention resides in the ability of the cutterto simultaneously blend-in curved surfaces in the pattern.

A still further object of the invention is to be found in the -formationof a plurality of patterns, some of which are provided with uniformchanges and others with different changes to accommodate the larger andsmaller sizes.

These objects are `accomplished by providing a device having a pluralityof units, each having corresponding arms to grip and control a patternsheet, the -arms in each unit being movable transversely andlongitudinally of the housing to produce the proper relativedisplacement between the various pattern sheets. By using pivotedactuator bars with a pin and slot connection to the arms, uniform andstraight line displacement can be readily achieved.

A feature of the invention resides in the independent control of eachunit for projecting the arms thereof transversely of the housing whichresults in the displacing of the arms in the two units and causespivotal movement of the pattern sheets about an axis perpendicular tothe plane of the sheets, thus permittting blending of the curvedportions of the patterns.

` Another feature of the invention resides in the construction whereincertain of the arms in each unit may have a straight line variation andothers may have a greater or lesser change. This is advantageous whereit is desired to provide a lesser change in the small sizes and agreater change in the larger sizes.

Other features and advantages of Ithe invention will be apparent fromthe specilication and claims when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view of the device with the cover removed.`

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of a gripping member.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the actuator bar for longitudinaldisplacement of the connectors.

FIG. 7 is a detailed View of the releasable coupling in the pinionshaft.

FIG. 8 is a perspective of the device showing the superposed patternsheets inV displaced relation.

FIG. 9 is -a View similar to FIG. 1 -showing one unit of a modifiedconstruction.

Ebfi@ .Patented Apr. 16, 1963 housing has an elongate opening 15 throughwhich a plurality of paper manipulating arms 16 project.

Each of the arms has a chuck 17 secured to its end in. which papergripping or clamping members 18 are detachably mounted. While thegripping members may take many forms, they preferably comprise upper andlower flat resilient spring members 19, 20 normally urged to ,openpositions, as shown in FIG. 3, and having their inner 'ends extendinginto the-chuck and clamped therein by a thumbscrew 21. The forward endsare provided with inwardly curved teeth 22, 23 which are adapted to bepositioned over the folded edge of a sheet of pattern paper 25 with 'theedge engaging a stop pin 26 on one of the gripping 4members to locate itin the gripping member. The gripping members operated by a sleeve 2'7 ismoved along the members 22, 23 to close them into gripping relation.

Y As noted in FIGS. 1 and 5, the teeth 22, 23 on the gripping membersengage and grip the superposed edges of the paper in such a manner thatthey are protected by the distorted paper as the sheets move relative toone another as will be explained.

Depending upon the size of pattern being used as the master pattern, theappropriate pair of gripping members can be deflected, because of theresiliency thereof, to locate lsaid master pattern on the -top of thesuperposed pattern sheets while the remaining members will assume theirproper place in the superposed pile of sheets.

The arms in accordance with the present invention are divided into twogroups or units. As shown in FIG. 1, one group comprises arms 30, 31,32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and the other group comprises corresponding arms 30A,31A, 32A, 33A, 34A, 35A and 36A. The corresponding arms in each groupare adapted to grip the edge of the same sheet in the superposed pile ofsheets to effect its movement during the grading operation. In theillustrated form of the invention the center arm 33, 33A in each groupis fixed to the housing by a mounting bar 37F and the other arms areeach slidably mounted in a carrier 37 disposed within the housingperpendicularly to Vt-he side 12 of the housing. The slidable arms ineach group are provided with pins 3S adapted to be located at spacedintervals in a slot 39 in an elongate actuator bar 40 which is pivotedto the mounting for the fixed arm.

In order to move the arms perpendicularly to the edge a manuallyoperated rack and pinion is provided for driving the actuator bar. Whilea single rack and pinion may be used to obtain simultaneous movement ofthe corresponding arms in both groups if the actuator bars of the groupsare tied together for simultaneous movement, itis at present preferredto provide a corresponding arm in each unit or group with a separaterack. As illustrated, the arms 30, 30A are provided with racks 41, 41awhich cooperate with an elongate pinion gear or shaft 42 extendingacross the housing above the arms and projecting 4from each end of thehousing and terminating in operating knobs '43, 44.

While the pinion gear may be formed as a unitary shaft, it is hereinillustrated as being formed by two shafts 42a, 4211 mounted in bearings42C, 42d and the en-d'plates 11. Between the two shafts there is areleasable coupling 45 yieldably urged into coupled relation by springs46, 47 for normally simultaneously driving the arms but premittingindependent operation of each unit or group as will be explained. In theillustrated form of the invention, as the pinion gear 42 is rotated, itmoves the racks 41, 42, and the arms 3f) and 30A to which they areconnected, inwardly and outwardly depending on the direction of rotationof the shaft. As the arms move, the pin 3S thereon operating in the slot39 will move the actuator bar 40 about its pivot. The actuator bars ineach group will drive the pins 38 connected to the arms and disposed inthe slot 39 and cause predetermined relative movement between thecorresponding arms in each group and with the xed pattern.

As shown in FG. 1, the folded papers 25 are disposed in a startingposition in which the folded edges 25a are in alignment and gripped bycorresponding gripping members with the basic pattern 25B located on topand gripped in the gripping members connected to arms 30', 36A. As thearms 30, 30A in each unit are moved rearwardly by the rack and gear, thepapers gripped by arms 31, 31A and 32, 32A will move rearwardly bypredeterminately different amounts and the arms 34, 34A, 35, 35A and 36,36A will move -forwardly by similar predeterminately different amounts,thus producing the required spread in the superposed pattern sheets, asshown in FIG. 8, to permit all of the sheets to be cut with the propercut for the particular adjustment. Because of the relationship betweenthe pins and slot, as shown in FG. l, the movement between the variousarms will be in a straight line proportion. If desired, a suitable scale48 can be provided to aid the cutter in making the required transverseadjustments.

in or-der to provide for longitudinal adjustment of the superposedpattern sheets, each of the corresponding carriers in each set isconnected by a connector bar slidably mounted on the base and disposedbetween suitable guides secured to the base so as to producesimultaneous movement thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the carriers for arms 30, 30A are secured toconnector 50l slidable on the base `for simultaneous movementlongitudinally of the housing. Similarly the carriers for arms 31, 31Aare secured to connector 511; carriers for arms 32, 32A are connected toconnector 52. The connector 53 for the mounting bars 3'7F is secured infixed position on the base. The connectors 54, 55 and 56 for thecarriers for arms 3'4 and 34A, 35 and 35A and 36 and 36A are slidablysupported on the base. The connectors are limited to longitudinalsliding movement by xed guides 57 and 58 at opposite sides thereof inconjunction with the fixed connector 53.

In order to cause simultaneous longitudinal adjustment of the arms, eachof the connectors on either side of the center connector 53 is providedwith a pin 60 which is received in an elongate slot 61 in an actuatorbar 62 pivoted at 62a to the fixed connector 53 and disposed in a recess63 formed in the base below the sliding connectors as shown in FIG. 4 To operate the connectors to adjust their position, connector 501 isprovided on its edge with a rack I64 cooperating with a gear 65 mountedon a shaft 66 projecting out of the top cover 13 and rotatedA by -ahandwheel 67. Thus, by rotating the handwheel, the connector 5)v will bemoved to the right or left by the rack 64. The pin 60 on the connectorwill drive the pivoted bar 62 about its pivot. The other pins 60 securedto each of the connectors and disposed in the slot 61 f gitudinaladjustments it will be noted that the elongate pinion 42 maintainsoperative relation withV the racks to effect transverse adjustment oft-he units for various longitudinal adjustments of the arms.

If desired a suitable scale 68 can be provided on the side 12 adjacentthe opening 15 to aid the cutter in making the required longitudinaladjustments.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided a simple andeffective means for simultaneously grading a pattern into its varioussizes.

Quite frequently, however, the longitudinal and transverse adjustmentsmay not be sumcient to accurately complete the grading operation becauseof the presence of curved surfaces such as armholes 69, necklines 70 andthe like, which require blending. The present invention provides meansfor simultaneously adjusting the patterns about a vertical axis passingthrough the pattern sheets so that the sheets can be still furtheradjusted to permit the 'simultaneous blending of curved surfaces. Thisis accomplished by means of the two-part pinion shaft 42a, 42b whichpermits individual control over each arm group or unit. When it isdesired to blend in an armhole or the like curved surface, the knobs 43or 44 are retracted moving the pinion shafts 42a or 42b back against theurging of the springs `46, 47 to a retracted position in which thedriving connection 45 is broken as shown in FIG. 7. By rotating one orboth of the knobs 43 or 44, the corresponding arms in each unit arecaused to have different projecting movements which result in thepattern sheets lbeing tilted about a vertical axis and thus permit thecutter to shift said sheets to provide the desired simultaneous blendingof the curved surfaces.

' Under some circumstances it may be desired to provide for differentialadjustments between the pattern sheets in grading a particular style ofpattern. This is accomplished by the present invention by providingcertain of the arms with a relative movement having a straight lineproportion and others at a different rate. For example, it may bedesired to have the middle sizes in a direct proportion and the largerand smaller sizes at different proportions. Such a device is shown inFIG. 9 wherein for the'sake of simplicity only one of the two groups ofarms is disclosed.

It will be noted that the arms, carriers, connectors, racks, pinionshafts and other operators are the same. In this form of the inventionthe elongate actuator bar 46a is pivotally mounted on mounting bar 7Fand its slot 39a engages the pins on the arms 31A, 32A and 34A so thatthe four middle arms move relatively with a straight line movement. -Inorder to modify the movements of arms .SGA and 35A, 36A a transversepivot bar 71 is mounted on a connector 72 driven by a pin 73 in the slot61 on the pivot bar 62. A rst auxiliary actuator bar 74 has a slot 75receiving a pivot pin 76 at one end of the pivot bar 71. The auxiliaryactuator receives a driving pin 77 on the arm 30A and as the arm ismoved by the rack it causes the bar 74 to drive the arm 31A through pin78 operating in the slot 75 at a rate different from the straight lineratio of the middle arms. Similarly a second auxiliary actuator bar 79has a slot 80' receiving a pivot pin 81 mounted on the other end of thepivot bar. The slot 80 engages a driver pin 82 on the arm 34A and drivesthe bar 79 as the arm is moved. The slot in the bar engages the drivenpins 83, 84 on arms 35A and 36A to project the arms at a different ratethan the middle arms. Thus, it will be seen that arm 30A drives thefirst auxiliary actuator, which drives the arm 31A by pin 7S. Arm 31Awill drive the actuator bar through pin 38- and cause the arms 32A, 33Aand 34A to have a predetermined straight line ratio of movementdifferent from arm 30A, and arm 34A through pin 82 thereon drives thesecond auxiliary actuator 79 to actuate the arms 35A and 36A at a stilldifferent ratio than the other arms. It will be seen that by properlyproportioning and positioning the auxiliary actuator bars a differentialratio of movement between the arms can be achieved.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing; a pair of unitsmounted on the housing in side-by-side relation, each of said unitscomprising a plurality of paper manipulating arms projecting from a sideof the housing and having clamping members at the ends thereof, theclamping members on corresponding arms receiving blank sheets of patternpaper and holding said sheets in superposed relation; interconnectingmeans for connecting said arms in each unit for predetermined relativelateral movement; operating means for the interconnecting means tooperate both units simultaneously to cause corresponding movement of thesuperposed sheets held in the clamping members in each unit in the planeof said sheets and toward and away from the side of the housing; andmeans for rendering the operating means inoperative to simultaneouslyshift the papers and for permitting the interconnecting means of each ofthe units to be operated individually thereby to shift the papers in aplane of the papers and about an axis perpendicular to the plane of thepapers to permit blending of curved edges of the pattern.

2. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing; ya pair of unitsmounted on the housing in side-by-side relation each of said unitscomprising a plurality of paper manipulating arms having blank sheets ofpattern paper clamping members at the ends thereof; means for relativelymoving the corresponding arms in each unit longitudinally of the housingin a predetermined ratio; actuating means for the arms in each unit forrelative lateral movement in the direction toward and away from a sideof the housing in a predetermined ratio; manual means operating theactuating means for both units simultaneously to cause correspondingmovement of the clamping members in each unit to have the same lateralmovement; and means for rendering the manual means inoperative tosimultaneously shift the papers and for permitting the units to beoperated individually thereby to shift the papers in a plane of thepapers and about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the papers forblending.

3. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing; a pair of unitsmounted on the housing in side-by-side relation, each of said unitscomprising a plurality of paper manipulating arms having clampingmembers at the ends thereof, said armslprojecting from one side of thehousing, the clamping members of corresponding arms in each unit beingadapted to grip a blank sheet of pattern paper; means connectingcorresponding arms in each unit for movement together in a longitudinaldirection in the housing; means actuating said last-named means forshifting the corresponding clamping members in each unit in apredetermined relationship to shift the sheets in the plane of thesheets and in a direction longitudinally of the side of the housing;means for connecting the manipulating arms in each unit forpredetermined relative movement laterally in the direction toward andaway from said side; means for operating both units sirnultaneously tocause corresponding clamping members in each unit to have the samelateral movement to shift the sheets clamped thereby in the plane of thesheets and .in a ldirection perpendicular to the side of said housing;and means for rendering the last-named means inoperative to so shift thepapers and for operating the units individually to shift the papers in aplane of the papers and about an axis perpendicular to the plane of thepapers.

4. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing; a pair of unitsmounted on the housing in side-by-side relation, each of said unitscomprising a plurality of paper manipulating arms having clampingmembers at the ends thereof, said arms being slidable in carrierstherefor so as to project from one side of the housing,

Ithe clamping members of corresponding arms in each unit being adaptedto grip a blank sheet of pattern paper; connecting means connecting thecarriers for corresponding arms in each unit for movement together in alongitudinal direction in the housing; means actuating said connectingmeans for shifting the carriers in each unit to provide a predeterminedrelative shift of the sheets in the plane of the sheets andlongitudinally in a direction parallel to the side of the housing; meansfor connecting the manipulating arms in each unit for predeterminedrelative movement laterally in the direction toward and away from saidside; means for operating said last-named means to cause both units tosimultaneously move the corresponding clamping members in each unit in apredetermined relation to shift the sheets clamped thereby in the planeof the sheets and in a direction perpendicular to the side of saidhousing; and means for rendering the last-named means inoperative to soshift the papers and for operating the units individually to shift thepapers in a plane of the papers and about an aXis perpendicular to theplane of the papers.

5. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing; a pair of unitsmounted on the housing in side-by-side relation, each of said unitscomprising a plurality of paper manipulating arms having clampingmembers at the ends thereof for gripping blank sheets of pattern paper,said arms projecting from one side of the housing; means connectingcorresponding arms in each unit for movement together in a lateraldirection in the housing; means actuating said last-named means forshifting the corresponding clamping members in each unit in apredetermined relationship to shift the sheets in the plane of thesheets and in a direction parallel to the side of the housing; means forconnecting the manipulating arms in each unit for predetermineddifferential movement in the direction toward and away from said side;means for operating both units simultaneously to cause correspondingclamping members in each unit to have the same movement to shift thesheets clamped thereby in the plane of the sheets and in a directionperpendicular to the side of said housing; a-nd means for rendering thelast-named means inoperative to so shift the papers and for operatingthe units individually to shift the papers in a plane of the papers andabout an aXis perpendicular to the plane of the papers.

6. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing, a base, end walls,side walls and a cover; a pair of units mounted on the housing inside-by-side relation, each of said units comprising a plurality ofpaper manipulating arms having clamping members at the ends thereof forgripping blank sheets of pattern paper; carriers for said arms slidablymounting said arms for projection through an opening in one side of thehousing; rigid connectors slidable on the base and connectingcorresponding carriers in each unit for movement together in alongitudinal Idirection in the housing; means including a handwheelprojecting above the cover and having a rack and gear connection withsaid connectors for shifting the corresponding carriers in each unitrelatively in a predetermined relationship to shift the arms and sheetscarried thereby in the plane of the sheets and in a longitudinaldirection parallel to the side of the housing; actuating meansinterconnecting arms in each unit for predetermined relative movement inthe direction toward and away from said side; means including projectingknobs for manually operating the actuating means for both units tosimultaneously cause corresponding clamping mem-bers in each unit tohave the same movement to shift the sheets clamped thereby in apredetermined ratio in the plane of the sheets and in a directionperpendicular to the side of said housing and inclu-ding a releasablecoupling; and means for rendering the releasable coupling inoperative todrive and for operating the actuating means for each unit individuallyso as to shift the papers with a different ratio and in the plane of thepapers and about an axis perpendicular tothe plane of the papers forblending purposes.

7. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing, a base, end walls,side walls and a cover; a pair or" units mounted on the housing inside-by-side relation, each of said units comprising a plurality ofpaper manipulating arms having clamping members at the ends thereof forgripping blank sheets of pattern paper; carriers for said arms slidablymounting said arms for projection through an yopening in one side of thehousing; rigid connectors slidable on the base and connectingcorresponding carriers in each unit for movement together in alongitudinal direction in the housing; interconnecting means including apivoted actuator having a pin and slot connection withy each connect-or;a handwheel projecting above the cover and having a rack and gearconnection with one of said connectors for driving the pivoted actuatorand thereby relatively shifting the corresponding clamping members ineach unit in a predetermined ratio to shift the sheets in the plane otthe sheets and in a longitudinal direction parallel to the side of thehousing; a second pivoted actua-- tor for each unit having a pin andslot connection with the arms in each unit for predetermined relativemovement in the direction toward and alway trom said side; meansincluding projecting knobs for manually operating an elongate pinionhaving a releasable connection therein, said pinion driving a rack on acorresponding arm in said unit to simultaneously drive the pivotedactuator and cause the corresponding clamping members in each unit tohave the same movement to shift the sheets clamped thereby in apredetermined ratio in the plane of the sheets and in a directionperpendicular to the side of said housing; and means for rendering thereleasable connection inoperative to so shift .the papers and foroperating the pivoted actuators for each unit individually so as toshift the papers kwith adiferent ratio and in the plane of the papersand about an axis perpendicular to the plane of lthe papers for blendingpurposes.

8. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing; a pair of unitsmounted on the housing in side-by-side relation, each of said unitscomprising a plurality of correspending paper manipulating arms havingchuck means at one end for receiving clamping devices for blank sheetsof pattern paper at` spaced points, said clamping devicek beingdeectable, for mounting said sheets in superposed relation andcomprising resilient upper and lower members normally urged to an openposition andA having at their ends inturned interlocking teeth adaptedto be positioned on opposite sides of said sheet, at least one of saidmembers having stop means, for limiting the position of the sheetbetween said members, and releasable means for moving the members intogripping relation with the sheets and deforming the sheets thereat toprovide protecting means for the clamping devices; and means forprojecting said arms with a predetermined relative movement with respectto one another in a lateral direction to shift the superposed patternsheets to produce a grading thereof.

9. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing; a pair of unitsmounted on the housing in side-by-side relation, cach of said unitscomprising a plurality of paper manipulating arms having chuck means atone end for receiving clamping devices for blank sheets of pattern paperin superposed relation, said clamping devices mounting said sheets insuperposed relation and comprising ilat resilient upper and lowermembers having at their ends inturned interlocking teeth adapted to bepositioned with the sheets and de'forming the sheets thereat to provideprotecting means for the clamping devices during relative movement ofthe superposed sheets; means relatively moving the corresponding arms ineach unit longitudinally of the housing with a predetermined ratio;means for projecting said arms from one side of the housing; and meansvfor moving said arms with respect to one another in a lateral directionin a predetermined ratio to shift the superposed pattern sheets andproduce a grading thereof.

10. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing; a pair of unitsmounted on the housing in side-by-side relation, each of said unitscomprising a plurality of paper manipulating arms having blank sheets ofpattern paper clamping members at the ends thereof for mounting saidsheets in superposed relation; separate carriers for each of the armsslidably mounting the arms for projection from one side of the housing;connector means connecting corresponding carriers in each unit forlongitudinal movement in the housing; a pivoted actuator having pin andslot connections to the connector means for shifting the carriers in apredetermined relationship for longitudinally shitting said sheets; asecond pivoted actuator for each unit having a pin and slot connectionwith said arms for sliding said arms in the carriers with predeterminedrelative movement in the lateral direction; and manual means for movinga corresponding arm in each unit and through said second actuatorsimultaneously causing corresponding arms in each unit to have the samelateral movement whereby the superposed sheets are adjusted in apredetermined relation with one another.

1l. A pattern grading machine comprising a housing; a pair ot' unitsmounted on the housing in side-by-side relation, each of said unitscomprising a plurality ofpaper manipulating arms having blank sheets ofpattern paper clamping members at the ends thereof for mounting saidsheets in superposed relation; carriers for each of the arms slidablymounting the arms for projection from one side of the housing; connectormeans connecting corresponding carriers in each unit for longitudinalmovement in the housing; a pivoted actuator having pin and slotconnections to the connector means for shifting the carriers in apredetermined relationship for longitudinally shifting said sheets; asecond pivoted actuator for each unit having a pin and slot connectionwith certain of said arms for sliding said arms relative to lone anotherwith a predetermined ratio in the lateral direction; auxiliary actuatormeans for moving the other of said arms relative to the remaining armsat a different ratio; manual means for l moving a corresponding arm ineach unit and through said second actuator; and auxiliary actuator meanssimultaneously causing corresponding arms in each unit to havedifferential lateral movement whereby the superposed sheets are.adjusted in a predetermined relation with one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSKaufman Feb. 2l, 1961

1. A PATTERN GRADING MACHINE COMPRISING A HOUSING; A PAIR OF UNITSMOUNTED ON THE HOUSING IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, EACH OF SAID UNITSCOMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PAPER MANIPULATING ARMS PROJECTING FROM A SIDEOF THE HOUSING AND HAVING CLAMPING MEMBERS AT THE ENDS THEREOF, THECLAMPING MEMBERS ON CORRESPONDING ARMS RECEIVING BLANK SHEETS OF PATTERNPAPER AND HOLDING SAID SHEETS IN SUPERPOSED RELATION; INTERCONNECTINGMEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID ARMS IN EACH UNIT FOR PREDETERMINED RELATIVELATERAL MOVEMENT; OPERATING MEANS FOR THE INTERCONNECTING MEANS TOOPERATE BOTH UNITS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO CAUSE CORRESPONDING MOVEMENT OF THESUPERPOSED SHEETS HELD IN THE CLAMPING MEMBERS IN EACH UNIT IN THE PLANE